Nashville Standard

Nashville, Tenn—House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) has issued a statement in response to reports from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) regarding the presence of the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, in Tennessee.

Chairman Green expressed concern over what he describes as the "consequence of destructive open-borders policies" under the Biden-Harris administration. He stated, “From day one, the Biden-Harris administration willfully and intentionally threw our borders wide open, gutted interior enforcement, and signaled to the criminal cartels and transnational gangs that they would be able to take advantage of our country with impunity."

He emphasized that residents should not have to live in fear due to these policies. According to Green, "Thanks to their policies, thousands of Border Patrol agents have been pulled away from securing the border, and ICE agents have been prevented from removing many of those here illegally, including violent criminals.”

The chairman further noted that Tren de Aragua is destabilizing communities in Tennessee and attributed this development to what he calls "President Biden, Vice President Harris, and now-impeached DHS Secretary Mayorkas’ destructive open-borders policies." He commended TBI for raising awareness about the gang's activities as state leaders explore ways to address their growing presence.

Green pledged his support for future efforts aimed at restoring order at U.S. borders under an incoming administration. “As Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security," he said, "I will enthusiastically support the incoming Trump-Vance administration’s agenda to restore order at our borders, revamp interior enforcement, and bring safety back to our communities.”

Background information indicates that Tren de Aragua is a major criminal organization from Venezuela which has expanded its operations into the United States during recent years. A report described them as “MS-13 on steroids” and noted their ability to infiltrate U.S. cities amid ongoing border challenges.

According to law enforcement sources nationwide, there are more than 100 investigations linked to suspected members of this gang. An internal Border Patrol bulletin recently warned agents about over 1,000 gang members entering the United States with potential threats directed at law enforcement personnel.